Means for transferring cans between heat-treating chambers



Ap 1931. A. R. THOMPSON 1,802,850

MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING CANS BETWEEN HEAT TREATING CHAMBERS Filed April 18, 1928 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES ALBERT It. THOMPSON, OF SAN JOSE,

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ANDERSON- BARNGROVER MFG. 00., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPOBATIGN OF CALIFORNIA.

MEANS FOR TRANSFEBRING CANS BETVIEEN HEAT-TREATING CHAMBERS Application filed April 18,

This invention relates to means for transferring cans between heat treating chambers, and in this particular illustration is shOWn as adapted for transferring cans from what is known in the art as a cooker to a cooler, and is more particularly related to a means for transferring the cans from the cooker to the cooler without reversing the relative positions of the cans in the cooker and coolor and for so delivering the cans into the cooler that the pass into the cooler generally to prevent scarring or of the cans as they are delivered into the cooler.

In passing the cans through a combined cooler and cooker, the end of the can, which is in contact with the helical track through which the cans travel longitudinally in the cooker and cooler, becomes scarred, or damaged, and in certain types of canning it is desirable to maintain one end of the can bright and free from scarring, scoring or any disfigura-tion. In packing of cans of condensed milk, for example, it is desirable to maintain one end of the can bright as these cans are C; always packed in their boxes, or cases, with the end uppermost which is opposite to the end of the can through which the same are filled. These milk cans are generally filled through a vent, and after the. cans are filled so this vent is soldered to close the can. The condensed milk cans as thus filled are packed with this soldered end down. in the pocking case, or box. The end of the can which comes into contact with the helical track as the same :11; is conveyed through the cooker and cooler becomes scarred or scored by their contact with the track. By transferring the cans from the cooker to the cooler so that the same end is in contact with the track in the cooler as was in contact with the track in the cooker, the scoring or scarring maybe maintained all on one end of the can and this is preferably the vent end in milk cans, thereby maintaining the opposite end in a bright and shining condition, free from scoring.

In the processing of certain type of canned goods, for example, condensed milk, it is desirable to convey the canned goods out of the cooker and then into the cooler so that defective cans may be either detected by a 1828. Serial No. 271,089.

means similar to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial do. 273,103, filed April 26, 1928, or maybe detected by a trained operator standing over the transfer means and picked out of the conveyor as they pass from the cooker to the cooler. The detection of defective cans is permitted by the fact that the cans are sealed'hermetically and during this processing the perfectly sealed cans will present expanded ends which are outwardly r convex in appearance,while the defective cans which have leaks therein will have fiat ends not expanded due to the expansion of the contents within the can.

It is necessary in transferring the cans from the cooker to the cooler that they be passed through a minimum of space exterior to the cooker and cooler so that the cans then have insuflicient time to develop defects as the pressure is reduced from passing out of the cooker and then into the cooler. This requirement makes it necessary to quickly pass the cans from the cooker to the cooler in as short a time as possible.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a means for transferring cans from a cooker to a cooler so that the cans are passed out of the cooker and into the cooler in the same relative position.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for transferring cans from a cook or to a cooler'in such a manner that the cans are eased into the cooler while traveling at it relatively slow rate so that the cans are not damaged while passing into the cooler.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for transferring cans from a cooker to a cooler through a conveying means of a minimum length which will permit the cans to pass out of the cooker and into the cooler while maintaining the cans in the same relative positions in the cooker and in the cooler and while permitting the cans to be eased into the cooler at a relatively slow rate of speed to prevent damage of the cans as they pass into the cooler. 1

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred same to the transfer means.

embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a combined cooker and cooler illustrating the transfer means embodying this invention and illustrating the extractor means for extracting the cans from the cooker partially in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a. fragmental plan view of a combined cooker and cooler illustrating the transfer means embodying this invention.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in the accompanyaing drawings, 1 indicates a cooker which may be of any suitable or desirable construction and preferably comprises a shell 1 having on its inner periphery a helical track 2 through which the cans are conveyed by means of a reel 3 secured to the shaft a. The shaft a is coupled, as illustrated at 5, to the shaft 6 of the cooler 7. The cooler 7 is of substantially the same construction as the cooker 1 and includes a shell having on its inner periphery a to travel by means of a reel 9. Any suitable or desirable form of heating means may be provided in the cooker 1, such,- for example, as admitting of steam through a pipe (not shown) into the interior of the shell 1. Under some conditions it is desirable to maintain substantially equal pressure within the cooker 1 and cooler 7 and in order to obtain this equality of pressure, air or other cool gas may be forced into the cooler 7 under the pressure desired. The use of pressure cookers and coolers, however, is well understood in the art so that applicant does not deem it necessary to particular point out and dc scribe the construction and operation of such cookers and coolers.

In transferring the heated hermetically sealed cans 10 from the cooker 1 to the cooler 7 any suitable or desirable form of extracting means 11 maybe employed for extracting the cans from the cooker 1 and delivering the The extractor means herein illustrated includes a pick-up member 12 which extends into the interior of the shell of the cooker 1 in position to withdraw the cans as they are driven on to the member 12 by the reel 3. Adriven disc member 13 having extractor fingers 14 cooperates with the member 12 in extracting the cans from the cooker 1 and delivering the same to the chute 13. V

The transfer means embodying this invention in its preferred form includes a downwardly-inclined runway 1 1 on to which the cans 10 are delivered from the chute 18 The guide runway 14" curves in the direction to convey the cans by gravity from the cooker l to a reverse curve means 15 into which the cans 10 pass by gravity from the guide-way 1st. The reverse curve means 15 is connected at its opposite end with a guide-way 16 through which the cans 10 travel in passing into the cooler 7. In passing through the reverse curve means 15 the cans 10 are reversed in their rotationfrom rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow 17 to rotating in the direction illustrated by the arrow 18. The reversing of the rotation of the cans 1O materially slows up the cans as they are caused to pass by gravity from the extractor 11 to the cooler 7 so that the cans 10 are delivered into the cooler 7 at a relatively low rate of speed. The delivering of the cans through this ogee curve transfer means to reverse their direction of rotation causes the cans to pass into the cooler 7 at a rate of speed which is such that the cans will not be impacted in passing into the cooler 7 with sufficient force to damage or scar the cans.

As the cans are transferred from the cooker 1 to the cooler 7 it is possible for defective cans to be picked out of the guideways 141 or 16 by a trained operator due to the differences y in convexity of the respective ends of the can helical track 8 through which cans are caused due to the pressure created in the cans by their heated contents. It is also possible to mount in either the guideway 14 or the guideway 16 a defective can means similar to that illustrated in my copending applica tion filed April 26, 1928, Serial No. 273,103, for automatically ejecting from the transfer means the defective, or leaky, cans.

In case this transfer means is used between pressure chambers, it will be necessary to hermetically seal the transfer means includ- A ing the guideways 14 and 16 and reverse curve 15 so as to maintain the same pressure of the atmosphere through which the cans are passing as they are transferred from the cooker 1 to thecooler 7.

transferring cans from said cooker to said cooler, said means including an inclined guideway, having a reverse curve to deliver said cans to said cooler with the same end of said can foremostin said cooler as in said cooker.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a cooker, a cooler, means for passing cans longitudinally through said cooker with one end foremost to heat the same, means for passing cans longitudinally through said cooler to cool the same, means for extracting said cans from the cooker, and means for conveyingsaid cans to said cooler with the same end foremost in said-cooler as in said cooker.

3. In a combined. cooker and cooler, the combination of a shell for said cooker, means within said shell for advancing cans with one end foremost therethrough longitudinally of said cooker shell, means for extracting the cans from said cooker through said shell, means for conveying said cans from the cooker to the cooler so that said cans enter said cooler with the same end foremost as in said cooker, and means in said conveying means for determining the speed at which said cans enter said cooler.

4. In a combined cooker and cooler the combination of means for conveying cans through the cooker with one end foremost means for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler, including a guide runway and means in said runway to cause said cans to be delivered to said cooler with their same ends foremost and for retarding the speed of travel of said cans through said runway.

5. The combination with a pair of can treating chambers of means for conducting cans through one of the chambers with one end foremost, means for transferring cans from one of said chambers to the other said chamber, said means including a reverse curve guideway to deliver said cans to the latter of said chambers with the same end foremost as in the first said chamber.

6. The combination with a pair of treating chambers for canned goods of means for con ducting cans through one ofthe chambers with one end foremost, means for transferring cans from one chamber to another, means for delivering cans from the first chamber to the transfer means, and means for admitting cans from the transfer means into the latter said. chamber and said transferring means including means for retarding the speed of travel of the cans therethrough and for delivering the said cans the same end foremost to said means for admitting the cans to the second said chamber.

7. The combination with a cooker and a cooler, of means for conveying cans through the cooker with one end foremost, means for extracting the cans from the cooker at a point near the top of the cooker, gravity means for transferring he cans from said cooker to said cooler, said means including an inclined guideway having a reverse curve to deliver said cans to said cooler with the same end of said cans foremost in said cooler as in said cooker, and means for conveying the cans through the cooler with said end foremost.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of treating chambers for canned goods, of means for conveying cans through one of said chambers with one end foremost, means for extracting the cans from said chamber at a point near the top thereof, gravity means for transferring the cans from the first said chamber to the second said chamber, said means including an inclined guideway having a reverse curve to deliver said cans to said second chamber with the same end of said can foremost in the sec ond said chamber as in the first said chanr her, and means within the second said chamher for conveying the cans through said chamber with said end foremost.

9. The combination with a pair of heat treating chambers having means for transferring the cans end foremost therethrough, the said chambers being positioned substan tially end to end and in the same horizontal position, means for conveying the cans from the upper portion of one of said chambers to the other of said chambers, said means including a relatively long guideway of slight inclination and adapted to receive cans from the first chamber and being curved toward the second chamber, a second slightly inclined guideway adapted to deliver said cans to the second said chamber, the second said guideway being disposed below thefirst said guideway and being curved from the second chamber toward the first chamber, and a reverse curve means connecting the adjacent ends of said guideways and adapted to de liver cans from the first guideway to the second guideway with'the same end foremost.

10. In combination with a cooker and a cooler of substantially cylindrical shape, and positioned end to end, means in each the cooker and the cooler for conveying the cans end foremost through the said cooker and cooler so that the cans are guided by their ends only, means for extracting the cans from the top of the cooker, and means for delivering the cans to substantially the top of the cooler with the same ends of the cans foremost in both the cooker and the cooler to confine the marring of the cans to the same ends thereof, the latter said means including a slightly inclined relatively long guideway adapted to receive cans from the extracting means, said guideway being curved toward the cooler, a second slightly inclined guideway adapted to deliver said cans into an opening in the cooler, the second guideway being curved toward the cooker and disposed below the first said guideway. and a reverse curve guideway connecting the first and second said guideways.

Signed at San Jose, California, this 3 th day of March, 1928.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

